Luke 15:13 KJV 1900

And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

GIVE ME A MAN

Introduction:

Jesus began His parable by saying: “A certain man had two sons,” and in a sense there are two prodigals in the parable. One was a backslider by going away from home; the other was a backslider who remained at home (just as there are spiritual backsliders within the church today).

Others say that it is really a parable about the father rather than about a son or two sons, for it is the father’s love and forgiveness that is so prominent.

However, it has long been known as “The Parable of the Prodigal Son,” but the younger son can hardly be studied without reference to his brother and his father.

There is a very simple way by which to remember the career of the younger son: home, sick of home, homesick, home again! This is often the career of young men (and perhaps just as frequently, young women) in this twentieth century, with lack of love and discipline in the home and the attractions of the materialistic world outside.

HOME

Hayden, E. W. (1978). All-Occasion Sermon Outlines (pp. 23–24). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

HOME

The old song expresses this well-worn sentiment: “Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home.” The word home takes up many columns of print in any dictionary of quotations. It stands for:

Safety

The young child grows up in a home (if it is a good home) that keeps him safe against the world and want.

Security

Mother and father endeavor to provide a situation within the home that gives a feeling of security to their offspring.

Comfort

Parents try to provide comfortable surroundings for their children, not, if the parents are wise, protecting in an artificial environment in contrast with the world of “hard knocks” outside.

Companionship

Responsible parents endeavor to be friends and companions, as well as a mother and father, to their children. They encourage their children to bring their friends home and share in the hospitality and family atmosphere.

When God created man, He made him for home and family life. In the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve experienced companionship with God as He walked and talked with them in the cool of the evening.

SICK OF HOME

All-Occasion Sermon Outlines II. Sick of Home

A true home, as we have seen, must have a certain amount of discipline. This gives young people a sense of security, whereas being brought up without any rules and regulations leaves them with a feeling of insecurity.

A small boy packed his bag to run away from home. After going through the front gate, he returned. His young sister said, “Have you forgotten something?” “No!” he replied, “I want mommy to run away with me.”

In our Lord’s parable there were several stages in the prodigal’s leaving home:

Hayden, E. W. (1978). All-Occasion Sermon Outlines (p. 24). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

A true home, as we have seen, must have a certain amount of discipline. This gives young people a sense of security, whereas being brought up without any rules and regulations leaves them with a feeling of insecurity.

A true home, as we have seen, must have a certain amount of discipline. This gives young people a sense of security, whereas being brought up without any rules and regulations leaves them with a feeling of insecurity.

A small boy packed his bag to run away from home. After going through the front gate, he returned. His young sister said, “Have you forgotten something?” “No!” he replied, “I want mommy to run away with me.”

In our Lord’s parable there were several stages in the prodigal’s leaving home:

Note His Preparations

He asked for money, the future inheritance he would have received when his father died.

Hayden, E. W. (1978). All-Occasion Sermon Outlines (pp. 24–25). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

He Did Not Delay

—“not many days after.” Like the gambler with his winnings he was eager to be off to spend his money on pleasurable living.

God Stepped In

When he had spent all, when he had become penniless and friendless, when he had an empty stomach, then he heard God speaking to him.

So it is with the spiritual backslider. On our downward path God speaks through various means and in various ways.

HOMESICK

Hayden, E. W. (1978). All-Occasion Sermon Outlines (p. 25). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

HOMESICK

Memories were awakened—“he came to himself” or to his senses. He realized he had been mad to run away.

Not sure of the reception he still made plans to return and thought of words with which to placate his father. The flashy friends, fast living and bright lights now did not mean as much to him as the comforts of the home he had left.

HOME AGAIN!

HOME AGAIN!

Did he walk, hitch a ride, beg food? We are not told. In our imagination we can picture his arrival.

The Hilltop

Walking up the last hilltop of his journey back he saw the old homestead in the distance. He saw his elder brother and the farm hands going about their business.

The Rooftop

On the flat eastern roof the father had kept a daily vigil. Perhaps his sight was going dim or tears formed a film, but soon he saw the familiar figure of his lost son.

The Slowness of the Son

He was weak and weary; he was half-afraid of the reception he would receive.

The Swiftness of the Father

Forgetting age and dignity he ran down the outside staircase of an eastern home, two steps at a time, and embraced his son.

The son repented; the father forgave and then because actions speak louder than words, he gave his son gifts—a ring for assurance; sandals that spoke of liberty; a robe that spoke of security; a feast and merry-making to remind him of the true pleasures of home.

We live in a woman’s world, we are told. We are unisex. We are all equal. Without a doubt mothers play a great part in homemaking, but the father must exercise loving discipline; and if a son “goes over the traces” the father must be as ready to receive him back as God in Christ is ready to welcome the son who has strayed away from spiritual things and whose love has grown cold.

Hayden, E. W. (1978). All-Occasion Sermon Outlines (p. 25). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.